Forward of his first battle in Sydney in 9 years, UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski has a message for anybody seeking to make a fast buck whereas he is combating at UFC 325 on February 1.
“If you wish to knock over a home in Wollongong that’ll be the day as a result of they’re going to all be empty,” Volkanovski mentioned.
“I may have offered each ticket within the area simply off the household and associates hyperlink the UFC sends us.”
Not solely will his rematch towards Diego Lopes rely because the closest factor the satisfaction of Windang will get to a hometown present, it additionally marks his first title defence on house soil.
He fought Islam Makhachev in Perth two years in the past, however that is when he moved as much as light-weight to chase some historical past.
Regardless of combating in nothing however title fights for the previous six years he is by no means had championship gold wrapped round his waist in entrance of his personal individuals and that is an enormous deal, as a result of Volkanovski is operating out of issues he can do for the primary time.
He is at a degree in his profession the place he has to dampen rumours that this might be a retirement battle.
Volkanovski understands the place the discuss comes from however he believes there’s nonetheless a lot to do earlier than he hangs up the gloves.
“I am 37, after all individuals assume, ‘How lengthy is there?’ and I am not going to sit down right here and say I’ve 5 or 6 years left,” Volkanovski mentioned.
“There isn’t any plans to retire after this. If the camp goes horrendous and the battle goes horrendous possibly I will not have it anymore.
“However I feel I do, I’ve confirmed that in coaching and I’ll show that February 1st and never simply that, I feel I could make it look simple.
“That is no disrespect to Lopes, that is simply the place I consider I can take it — with out a lot injury and get that fast turnaround I needed final time.”
That speedy return to the cage didn’t eventuate regardless of featherweight boasting new high contenders like undefeated Russian Movsar Eloev and thrilling Englishman Lerone Murphy.
That is made the choice to rearrange a rematch with Lopes, who knocked out fellow Brazilian Jean Silva in September after first dropping to Volkanovski in March, an unpopular one among the many sport’s fanbase.
Volkanovski regained the featherweight title with a victory over Lopes in April. (Getty Photos by way of Zuffa LLC: Jeff Bottari)
They crave seeing one other of the brand new breed take a look at themselves towards the legend, a lot as Volkanovski did towards the likes of Jose Aldo on his first run to the title years in the past.
However Volkanovski was determined to battle at house and the probabilities to take action have been operating brief.
When the UFC inked a take care of the New South Wales authorities in 2023 to convey 4 pay-per-view occasions to Sydney, Volkanovski was on the peak of his powers and the game’s largest Australian star.
He anticipated to be on most, if not the entire playing cards nevertheless it did not work out that manner by accidents, short-notice replacements and the thousand and one different components that make fight sports activities a chaotic enterprise.
Given this occasion is the ultimate of these three occasions, there is not any assure Volkanovski would ever get one other likelihood to battle for a title so near house however even when it’s the final time he isn’t viewing it as the start of the top.
Volkanovski final fought in Sydney in 2017, nicely earlier than his championship days. (Getty Photos by way of Zuffa LLC: Josh Hedges)
Volkanovski believes the arrogance he gleaned from the primary win over Lopes, which got here after back-to-back knockout losses, can set him up for a second sustained run because the featherweight champ.
It was towards Lopes that he rebuilt his religion in his personal talents after the defeats to Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, silencing doubters that ranged from the followers within the stands to the voices inside his head.
“There may have simply been a place the place I did not need to fireplace, the place I used to be hesitant,” Volkanovski mentioned.
“With somebody like him you’ll be able to’t be, should you do not fireplace you may get whitewashed. I am proud I’ve nonetheless received it, I caught to what I educated as a result of there’s a lot speak about bouncing again from the knockout losses.
“These ideas may sink in earlier than and even through the battle, and even when they have been loud I discovered a method to not hear and as a substitute do what I wanted to do.”
What the return to Sydney has allowed Volkanovski to do is mirror on how far he is come.
His final bout within the Harbour Metropolis was in November of 2017. It was simply his second UFC bout and he was nowhere close to the primary occasion, not to mention a title battle.
His opponent was changed twice within the lead-up and it was solely two weeks earlier than that he knew he’d be combating New Zealand’s Shane Younger.
A unanimous determination victory adopted, however Volkanovski did not take pleasure in it a lot. Again then, all he may really feel was the strain he placed on himself to be nice. Now, he is nice sufficient to really feel all of it.
“I am nonetheless as pushed as I used to be then, however now I’ve a greater understanding of all the things — being nice was the one factor I may give attention to,” Volkanovski mentioned.
“That man would not let himself benefit from the house crowd, he would not embrace the vitality, he’d be anxious he’d lose composure and get too emotional.
“However now? Convey it on. I need the gang. I need the strain.
“That is the place I thrive. I need the strain of getting my entire household there, it makes for a greater story and it makes for a greater win.”
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